Over the years COOLmob has advocated for, and received funding to educate the Top End community on passive design principles suitable for the tropics.
While no house can resist all extreme weather events, those in the tropics need to be designed to function safely and comfortably during floods and cyclones. Building codes already mandate that houses withstand cyclonic winds. However, the most common response to these codes and legislation is concrete block dwellings on elevated compacted earth pads. As an alternative, we are encouraging the uptake of cyclone resistant, lightweight construction that is well-shaded, well ventilated and increases interaction with the natural environment. After-all, to be climate resilient, we need to be in it and understand how it affects our day-to-day activities and lifestyle choices.
Somewhat ironically, this used to be understood; for example houses constructed before the 1970s in Darwin were typically high-set and framed with locally sourced timber. These houses had open, breezy undercroft spaces that provided cool respite from summer heat and protected the upstairs living areas from seasonal flooding. Mostly three-bedroom, single-bathroom designs, they had large casement windows to direct the breeze and no air-conditioning. Shady verandahs were also common features, sometimes enclosed with banks of timber or glass louvres to create sleep-outs – great flexible spaces that can act as filters of the tropical environment.
Below is a collection of useful resources we draw on for up to date facts and research in this area: